Director Expresses ‘Disappointment’ After Top Players’ Withdrawals From Canadian Open

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Aryna Sabalenka skipped the Canadian Open and will return at the Cincinnati Masters.

Director Expresses ‘Disappointment’ After Top Players’ Withdrawals From Canadian Open

Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Novak Djokovic, We Are Tennis France)

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The Canadian Open this year saw massive withdrawals this season. Several top players, among others, have decided to skip it and instead will start their campaign on the North American hard-court swing at the Cincinnati Masters.

Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper are not in Montreal or in Toronto for the 12-day tournament of the 1000 category. Tournament director Karl Hale expressed his disappointment after these withdrawals and is aiming to solve this matter with ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi.

We’re obviously disappointed with these withdrawals, but we’ve spoken to the players. We’ve spoken to the tour. Andrea, the ATP CEO, is coming this week, and we’ll discuss with him how to improve the situation. It’s a new 12-day model, so we’ll work on the process, but we’re very happy so far, and we’ll continue to develop as we go.

Karl Hale told local media

The 24-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t yet played in the tournament since 2018. Sinner became the champion here in 2023 by beating Alex de Minaur. Sabalenka, Draper, and Alcaraz have never reached the final in the tournament.

It’s uncertain whether Djokovic will be back for Cincinnati, given that he had skipped the tournament last year. He last lifted the title in 2024 by beating Alcaraz. Sinner and Sabalenka will enter Cincinnati as the defending champions; last year, they beat home favorites Frances Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula, respectively.

Then at the US Open next, both the World No.1s emerged victorious. The Italian ace breezed past Taylor Fritz, while the three-time Grand Slam singles champion knocked out Pegula.

Djokovic last lifted a Major at the 2023 US Open, and since then, he has made it to a Major final just once: at the 2024 Wimbledon, where he lost to Alcaraz. The Spaniard this season defended his French Open crown by upsetting Sinner. These two young rivals have lifted the last seven Grand Slam titles.

Carlos Alcaraz is grateful for the rivalry with Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner finally ended his losing streak against Carlos Alcaraz when he beat him in the Wimbledon final and denied him the three-peat in the grass-court Major. Sinner and Alcaraz have met 13 times, and the former trails 5-8 in the head-to-head matchups.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Before Wimbledon, the five-time Grand Slam champion defeated Sinner five times in a row starting from the 2024 Indian Wells. This season, they have met thrice in the finals: in Rome (Alcaraz won), Paris, and London. During an interview with the Financial Times, Alcaraz said he is grateful to have this rivalry with the four-time Grand Slam champion.

This rivalry is coming better and better, and I’m really grateful for that because it gives me the opportunity to give my 100 per cent in every practice, every day, just to be better. Because the level I have to maintain just to beat Jannik is really high.

Sinner so far has captured two titles- at Wimbledon and at the Australian Open (by beating Alexander Zverev). Alcaraz has won five titles- the most on the ATP Tour this season. These he lifted in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, Paris, and London (Queen’s Club Championships). Apart from these and the Wimbledon final, he had also made it to the summit clash of the Barcelona Open, but he couldn’t beat Holger Rune.

The two could once again schedule a blockbuster clash if they both reach the final of the Cincinnati Masters, which starts on August 7. While the 23-year-old will be aiming to defend his title, Alcaraz suffered a second-round exit last year. He fell in three sets against Gael Monfils.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Gives Interesting Take on the ‘Ugly’ Side of Social Media in the Modern Age